I was just wondering when I can change my daughter to a forward facing carseat?? I have bought the alpha omega and Babies r us said that at a certain weight and height I can charnge her for THIS carseat due thte construction of it, but eneryone else is telling me a year and over 20 lbs....Help what do I do???? I LOVE the alpha Omega carseat and cant wait until she can use it. For rear facing I could not use it due to the HIGH back and it will not fit in my envoy, but I LOVE the carseat cool looking, VERY supportive for her and compty for her.
Amie -
I have this same car seat and also had difficulty using it as a rear facing seat, but it can be done. I took the base off of mine and the manufacturer suggested using a rolled up towel to recline it. That didn't work so well, so I went to a safety car seat check and they used noodles.
Your daughter needs to be at least 20lbs and 1 year old before you can turn her around and face forward. If you need assistance in getting the car seat to face backwards, I would suggest going to http://www.safekidslakeshore.org/ or http://grandrapidssafekids.org/ to find a car seat check near you. They are great at helping you install the seat properly.
BTW - I absolutely love my car seat!
Jennifer
Jennifer is correct. You have to be 20 pounds AND one year of age before switching to forward facing.
Good luck.
Michelle M.
hi amie
you have heard right you half to be both one year old and twenty pounds that is what the law say it can't be one or the other it neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed to be both well i hope i helped you well good luck
ditto the others! 20lbs and 1 year. I've been told prior to the year mark a babes neck muscles are not strong enough and an accident would be much worse in a forward facing seat.
the child must be 20 pounds and 1 year.
she can ride in the cool comfy seat backwards until she is both 20 pounds and 1 year.
I think the alpha omega is a larger seat so it might not fit in all cars that well.
State Law says 20lbs AND 1 year of age. This is because your childs bones are still forming and hardening. She cannot withstand a crash front facing-It could snap her neck. Keep her rear facing as long as you can. If you ask your health care proffessional they will tell you the same. Your childs life and well-being is not worth switching it around early. I hope that you like it better than the others who bought it, the site I looked it up on didn't have much positive about it, and cool looking does not always equal functional.
Good luck,
Cindy
At least 20 Lbs and one year of age. Regardless of what their weight is, before one year, their neck muscles are not developed enough to take on possible whiplash if you did get into a wreck.
You have to wait until she is a year old and 20 pounds before she should be facing forward.
It is my understanding that you need to wait until they are 1 year old due to the strength of the muscles in their neck. It is more of a stability thing than an age thing.
You can only start using a forward facing car seat when the child turns 1. You can use it rear facing from 20 lbs on up. My daughter was so big by 6 months, I had to put her in the bigger rear facing car seat. She was to big for her infant seat. It was a little more of a pain to get her in, but safety comes first. I also have an envoy, have you tried putting it in? I'm not sure how it will fit forward facing if the back is to high for rear facing. The car is the same height all over. You might want to give it a try.
Have a good day,
Jennifer
You should always go with what the carseat manufacturer states. Usually the carseat comes with a booklet that while let you know what the tested limits are.
22 pounds is the absolute minimum, I normally wait till about 2 years. Rear facing is the safest! I was in an accident this past winter and my baby in her rear face set did not even feel anything she slept through it because her head did not fly forward in the crash. Don't rush it.
Please go to these links before you do anything. It will help you make a decision!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRP7ynNI8mI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4xhLYXtnsE&NR=1
Best of Mothering,
Moe - Mother of 4
Harley 6, Morgan Dee 4, Lucas 22 months, Gigi 3 month
Your doctor would totally frown on the idea of you putting your daughter in a forward facing carseat right now. For your daughters safty, I would just wait until she is one. When you take her in for her age one check up, the doc will tell you to turn the carseat or wait if she is really little.
It is SO, SO, SO much safer for them to be rear facing. There are some crash test videos circulating on the net - do a search for them. The difference is just heart stopping. The child who is rear facing barely moves. The one who is forward facing is SO scary. I still have my 16 month old rear facing and I plan on keeping her that way for quite some time, she is still very comfortable.
I have to also add that it has nothing to do with the muscles in their neck - that is a common mistake that people make. It has to do with bone strength. The bones become strong enough at some time around one year, but you can't tell that without a bone scan. I have heard so many people say "Oh his/her neck control is great, so I put them forward facing early" Ugh. Can you tell this is a hot issue for me?! Keep your babies safe! :)
Babies should face backwards until they are a year old.
Yes, you love the carseat, but since you love your daughter more :D keep her rear facing as long as possible. 1yr and 20lbs is the bare minimun safety requirement!
Keep her rear facing as long as you possibly can. You'll be able to use the Omega a lot longer after that. Your child's safety should be your first concern. Contact www.nhtsa.com for a local car seat inspector.
It is when they are one and over 20lb
ya the rules are now 1 year AND over 20lbs...my son is 21lbs already but my pediatrician told me to keep him rear facing til he's a year old.